Typewriter carriage stop mechanism



Nov. 23, 1954 E. PHELPS TYPEWRITER CARRIAGE STOP MECHANISM Filed Sept. '1. 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR.

Nov. 23, 1954 E. PHELPS 2,695,093

TYPEWRITER CARRIAGE STOP MECHANISM Filed Sept. 1. 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 23, 1954 TYPEWRITER CARRIAGE STOP MECHANISM Edwin Phelps, Wilmette, Ill.

Application September 1, 1951, Serial No. 244,779

9 Claims. (Cl. 197--179) This invention relates to stop mechanism for the carriage of typewriters, particularly for arresting the backward or return movement of the carriage.

The modern typewriter is equipped with a tabulator mechanism embodying key-controlled means whereby column stops for the typewriter carriage may be selectively set in operative or in inoperative or cleared position. Such a mechanism includes means for neutralizing the carriage escapement mechanism so as to permit the successive jump movements of a carriage under the action of a spring means which constantly urges the carriage toward the one limit of its movement.

Typists very often have to underscore a word, words, or less than full line phrases of the material they type. This requires a return of the carriage, after typing the word, words, or the entire line, to the point where the underscore is to begin. Such return of the carriage against the action of the spring, has to be made by hand with an intent upon the part of the operator to stop the carriage at the point where the underscoring is to begin. Where this point is not the left hand margin, it is not always possible to bring the carriage to rest at precisely the point where the underscoring is to begin. The operator may move a space or two beyond that point or may stop the carriage a space or two short of that point. In the one case the escapement release key or the space bar has to be depressed to effect the carriage adjustment to the exact point for starting the underscore. In the latter case the operator has to either back-space the carriage with the key for that purpose or continue by hand the backward movement of the carriage against the action of the spring. This may result in moving the carriage a space or two too far, making necessary the adjustment just mentioned. In the course of typing a page having many underscored sections this may consume an appreciable amount of time.

The main objects of this invention, therefore, are to provide improved means for arresting the backward movement of the carriage at a previously selected point; to provide improved means for this kind of use with the regular tabulator mechanism of the typewriter; and to provide improved means for automatically restoring the tabulator mechanism to its prior condition once the carriage has been set at the previously-selected point.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. l is a horizontal, skeleton sectional view of a typewriter tabulator control wherewith is associated a carriage stop means embodying this invention;

Fig. 2 is a partial, front-to-rear, sectional view of a typewriter whereto has been applied a carriage stop means embodying this invention;

Fig. 3 is a partial, side-to-side, sectional elevation of the same, the line 2-2 indicating the approximate plane on which the sectional view of Fig. 2 is taken;

Figs. 4 and 5 are detailed views illustrating respectively the means for setting and restoring a tabulator stop;

Fig. 6 is a detail showing the lever whereby all of the previously set tabulator stops are restored simultaneously to their inoperative or clear positions; and

Figs. 7, 8, and 9 are much enlarged, fragmentary, detailed views of parts of the carriage-arresting and stoprestoring means forming a part of this invention.

The distinctive concept of this invention involves lever-actuated means for selectively setting a stop during the forward movement of a typewriter carriage, for arresting the reverse movement of the carriage at the point of the set stop, and for retracting the set stop coincidentally with the arrested backward movement of the carriage.

A lever-actuated means embodying this concept is here shown as applied to an L. C. Smith typewriter having a tabulating mechanism such as illustrated in Patents Nos. 2,099,011 and 2,265,483. Only so much of the typewriter as is necessary for a clear understanding of this invention is shown and described. Such a typewriter construction with its tabulating mechanism will be described before explaining an embodiment of this concept wherewith that mechanism is supplemented.

The platen carriage 10 of the machine supports the platen 11 and is mounted, as usual, on the stationary main framework 12 of the machine to travel back and forth transversely of the machine and to be letter spaced from right to left under control of the usual carriage escapement mechanism (not shown). The carriage 10 of the machine is releasable from control of said escapement mechanism by the usual escapement-release or carriage-release mechanism (not shown) for running or tabulating jump movements of the carriage from right to left. Adjacent opposite ends of the carriage, and fixedly held to the carriage, are two brackets 13 which support the respective ends of a column-stop carrying bar 14 with said bar extending horizontally transversely of the machine, that is, in the direction of travel of the carriage 10.

The stop bar 14 is of oblong cross-section and is suitably secured to brackets 13 with the two Wider faces of the bar 14 disposed in super imposed horizontal planes. Formed in the opposite edges of the bar 14 are series of column-stop-spacing and guiding grooves or slots 16 and 17 extending vertically entirely across the respective edges of the bar. The slots 16 and 17 are directly opposite each other and are spaced a letter space apart, one slot 16 and an opposed slot 17 for each letter space position of the platen carriage.

Settable column stops 18 of novel construction, one for each letter-space position of the carriage, are rockably mounted on the stop bar 14, only a few of which are shown in the drawing for clarity of illustration. The stops are pivotally held to a straight pivot wire 19 removably seated in a V-shape groove (not shown), extending loingitudinally of the stop bar 14 along the front vertical e ge.

The stops 18 are each of substantially 'C-shape being formed from a single piece of sheet metal so as to be slightly resiliently expansible and contractible edgewise. The stops 18 thus are adapted to hold themselves and the pivot wire 19 assembled on the bar 14 for positive limited pivotal setting and unsetting movements of the stops about the pivot wire.

Each stop is formed at its outer edge with two integral projections or lugs 22 and 23 spaced apart circumferentially of the stop and extending outwardly substantially radially of the pivotal axis of the stop. At its inner edge each stop 18 is formed with two integral projections or lugs 24 and 25 extending inwardly substantially toward the pivotal axis of the stop, projection 25 being formed at the free end of the stop. Between projections 24 and 25, and close to projection 25, each stop 18 is formed at its inner edge with a stop-latching projection or cam hump 28 which projects inwardly a lesser distance than projections 24 and 25.

A flat-metal latching and retaining bar 26 for all of the column stops 18 is secured on the under face of the stop-carrying bar 14 by suitable clamping screws (not shown) extending through slots in the bar 26 to permit the bar 26 to be clamped to bar 14- in difierent fore-andaft adjusted positions of the bar 26 with the rear edge of bar 26 protruding rearward slightly beyond the root ends or foremost ends of the slots 17, but not to the rear or open ends of slots 17, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. The rear edge of the bar 26 is preferably rounded and ex tends longitudinally of bar 14 past all stops of the set of column stops 18. The cam hump 28 of each stop 18 is adapted to snap above and below said edge to releasably lock the stop in unset and set positions respectively.

Projection 25 of each stop 18 is adapted to engage under said bar 26 to arrest unsetting movement of the stop.

As fully explained in Patent No. 2,265,483 a universal unsetting device for the stops 18 is provided in the form of a rock shaft 31, with a fin 32, journaled on the frame 12 and connected to a forwardly-extending rocker arm 36 formed with a key or finger-piece 37, said arm and key being located at the right hand side of the carriage outwardly beyond the adjacent bracket 13.

The spacing of the projections 24, 25, and 28 of each stop 18 are such, as shown, that upon the rocking of any stop 18 from its unset or cleared inoperative position of Figs. 2 and to its set or operative position of Fig. 4, the cam hump or latching projection 28 will be forced down past the rear edge of bar 26 and engage under the latter as projection 24 engages the top face of the fin 32 of the universal unsetter rock shaft 31, to positively arrest the pivotal setting movement of the stop 18. Upon rocking of any stop 18 from its set position to its unset position, the cam hump 28 will be forced upward past the rear edge of bar 26 and engage over the latter as projection 25 engages the under face of the "bar 26 adjacent the rear edge of bar 26 to positively arrest unsetting pivotal movement of the stop 18.

It will also be obvious that by pressing down on the key or finger-piece 37 the fin 32 of the universal unsetter rock shaft 31 may be rocked upward and forward to unset any one or more of the stops 18 which may be set at the time of depression of the finger-piece, said fin 32 in this position thrusting against the projection 24 of any set stop to moye the stop to unset position.

The projections 22 and 23 of each stop extend generally rearwardly from the C-shaped stop for coaction with an individual stop setter and unsetter element whereby the stops 18 may be individually set and unset selectively, by key-applied force, either to the position shown in Fig. 4 or returned therefrom to the position shown in Fig. 5. This setter and unsetter element comprises a yoke 41 having its two legs pivoted at their rear ends on a fixed pin 42, one leg of said yoke being formed with a stop-setting and unsetting finger 43. Pin 42 extends horizontally transversely of the machine and is fixed in the main frame 12 of the machine above and behind the stop bar 14.

The key-controlled means for so shifting the stop setter and unsetter 4143 from, and restoring it to, idle position includes a vertically reciprocable link 45 connected at 44 to the ri ht-hand leg of yoke 41, and a vertically reciprocable link 53 connected to link 45 bv a cross-pin or cross-rod 54 rigid with the both links. Shifting of the link device 4553-54 upward, by force applied by a key 76 (see Fig. l), from a normal idle position thereof to which it is automatically restored upon release of key-applied force rocks the stop setter and unsetter element from normal position to that of Fig. 5 to unset a single set stop 18 aligned with the finger 43, the finger thrusting against projection 22 of said stop to unset the stop. Shifting of the link device downward, by force applied by a kev 66 (see Fig. 1), from its normalidle position to which it is restored upon release of the key-applied force rocks the stop setter and unsetter element from its normal idle position to that of Fig. 4 to set a single stop 18 aligned with finger 43, the finger thrusting against projection 23 of the stop to set the stop. Restoration of the rigid link device 455354 to normal position restores the stop setter and unsetter 41-43 to normal position.

The fin er 43 of the device 41-43 which swings the stops individually about their pivotal axis to set or unset a single selected stop at a time, extends forwardly from the yoke 41 and is located substantially in the medial vertical longitudinal plane of the machine. The thickness of finger 43 transversely of the machine is substantially equal to that of each column stop 18 and in each letter-spaced position of travel of the carriage a different one of the stops 18 is located in the same vertical fore-and-aft plane through the machine in which the finger 43 lies. The finger 43 normally projects in between the projections 22 and 23 of any stop 18 aligned therewith. The spacing apart of the two projections 22 and 23 of each stop 18 is such that during travel of the carriage, while the stop setter and unsetter 41-43 is in idle or neutral position, the projection 22 of all stops 18 will pass above the finger 43 and the projection 23 of all stops 18 will pass below finger 43 whether the stops be set or unset. The spacing apart of the projections 22 and '23 of each stop 18 is also such that, when said stop is registered with finger 43, downward swinging of the finger from idle position will set that stop by thrust of the finger on projection 23 and upward swinging of the finger from idle position will unset the stop by thrust of the finger against projection 22, but return movement of the finger to idle position will not shift the stop. The means whereby these links 45 and 53 are urged toward and retained in their normal intermediate idle positions when free of key-applied force-is fully set forth in the aforesaid Patent No. 2,099,0ll.

The projections 23 of the column stops 18 also serve as abutment elements of said stops for coaction with a suitable settable counter stop 86 on the machine frame in tabulating operations. The counter stop 86 shown, and the means for setting it, correspond to those disclosed in each of the above-mentioned patents. This counter stop 86 is located substantially midway the sides of the machine and is guided at its upper end adjacent the stop bar 14 in a fore-and-aft extending slot 87 in a part of the main frame 12. A key bar 92 connected to suitable controlling means as set out in said prior patents is provided for releasing the carriage for a tabulating jump from right to left and shifting the counter stop 86 from a normal idle position to an active position to engage a stop 18.

When counter stop 86 is in idle position the stops 18 will freely pass it whether stops 18 are set or unset. When counter stop 86 is in active position all unset stops 18 will pass the stop 86 but no set stop 18 will pass it. The projections 23 of set stops 18 will collide sidewise with the active or set counter stop 86 in successive tabulating jumps or runs of the carriage. The projection 23 of each set stop 18 is substantially directly behind and close to the stop bar 14 so that it will be firmly supported laterally by the side walls of slot 17 in which the set stop 18 is engaged.

The reverse or backward-carriage movement arresting means embodying this invention comprises, a second counter stop lever 88 connected by links 89 and 90 and bell-crank levers 91 and 93 to a push pin 94, the lever 88 and these several parts being urged into their retracted positions by a spring 95.

The second counter stop lever 88 is quite similar in form to the stop lever 86 and is located between the lever 86 and the link 45. However, the lever 88 is pivoted to the frame 12 at a point 85 below the pivot of the lever 86 and the shiftable connection for the links 45 and 43 so as to secure a longer horizontal movement of the upper end than is required for the lever 86. Being thus pivoted below the other parts it is necessary to bow the lever 88 outwardly around the pivot of the lever 88 and the slotted connections of the links 45 and 53 to the frame 12 (see Fig. 2). At its upper end the lever 88 is offset in opposite directions as shown at 8811 and 84. These offsets are for the purpose of disposing portions of the lever 88 respectively adjacent the upper ends of the lever 86 and link 45. The offset 880 is thus disposed to collide with the opposite face of a stop projection 23 from that which is contacted by the upper end of the tabulator counter stop lever 86. The offset 84 mounts a cam spring 96 into the path of which extends a pin 97 on the stop-retracting link 45. This cam spring 96 and pin 97 coact to secure an automatic retraction of a stop 18 when the lever 88 is shifted to its normallyretracted position by the spring 95, as will be explained presently.

The push-pin 94 is slidably mounted in a bearing 93 on a depressed portion of the front part of the frame 12 (see Fig. 1) directly above the tabulator bar 92. This push-pin 94 is provided with a button 160 on its outer or exposed end. The inner end has a conventional pin and slot connection to the bell-crank lever 93.

The spring should be constructed to have a pulling force enough greater than the resistance of the cam hump 28 of a stop 18 on the bar 26 so as to insure the retraction of a stop 18 to its inoperative or clear position when the push-pin 94 is released after being pushed in to arrest the return of the backward movement of the carriage 10.

The operation of this improved reverseor backwardcarriage movement stop mechanism is substantially as follows:

When the typist, in the normal writing of copy, comes to the point where a word, words or less-than-a-linc phrase is to be underscored she depresses the set key 66 of the conventional tabulator mechanism and proceeds with her writing of the word, words, or less-thana-line phrase to be underscored. The depression of the set key 66 shifts a stop 18 into its lowered position as shown in Fig. 4 disposing the projection 23 thereon in the paths of the upper ends of both of the levers 86 and 38 should either one be shifted. At the end of such a word, words, or less-than-a-1ine phrase or at the end of the line the operator holds depressed with one hand the push-pin 94 and with the other hand grasps the carriage and pulls it back toward its starting position. The depression of the push-pin 94 swings the forward extremity of the upper offset end 88a of the lever 88 forwardly into the path of the projection 23 of the previously-set stop 18 so that the return movement of the carriage 10 is arrested at the point where the underscoring is to begin.

As the offset end 88a of the lever 88 swings forward the pin 97 on the link 45 passes beyond the rear end of the cam spring 96. Thereupon, when the push-pin 94 is released, as the carriage comes to the desired arrested position the spring 95' retracts the lever 88 causing the pin 97 to ride up over the cam spring 96 with a consequent elevation of the link 45 and a retraction of the stop 18, as herein explained. As the lever 88 reaches its fully retracted position the pin 97 passes over the forward end of the cam spring 96 and allows the link 45 to drop to its normal position.

If there are spaced points in a line where underscoring is to be made the set key 66 is depressed at each point where the underscoring is to start. If the underscoring is to be made after completing the writing of the full line the carriage will be successively returned and ar rested at each succeeding point from right to left in the manner already explained.

Variations and modifications in the details of structure and arrangement of the parts may be resorted to within the spirit and coverage of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A typewriter platen-carriage stop mechanism comprising, a series of settable stops mounted to travel with the carriage, means for selectively setting and retracting the stops, a member movable into and out of the path of a set stop. means normally retracting the member, key-actuated means for shifting the member against the action of the retracting means to dispose the member in the path of a set stop, and means on the member adapted to automatically actuate the stop-retracting means when the key-actuated means is released.

2. A typewriter platen-carriage stop mechanism comprising, a series of settable stops mounted to travel with the carriage, means for selectively setting and retracting the stops, a member movable into and out of the path of a set stop, means normally retracting the member, key-actuated means for shifting the member against the action of the member retracting means to dispose the member in the path of a set stop to arrest a reverse manual movement of the carriage at the point of the set stop, and means on the member adapted to automatically actuate the stop-retracting means when the keyactuated means is released.

3. A typewriter platen-carriage stop mechanism comprising, a series of swingably mounted settable stops for travel with the carriage, a hinged finger mounted on the typewriter frame to selectively set and retract the stops, a pair of shiftable elements connected to the finger, key-actuated means connected to the respective elements so as to oppositely shift the same to selectively set and retract the stops, a lever mounted adjacent the shiftable elements to permit the upper end of the lever to be moved into the path of a set stop, resilient means normally retracting the lever from the path of a stop, key-actuated means for shifting the lever against the action of the resilient means for disposing the upper lever end in the path of a set stop, and coacting means on adjacent portions of the lever and the stop-retracting element adapted to enter into coactive relationship when the lever is shifted into the path of a stop to cause an automatic shifting of the element to retract a stop when the key-actuated means for shifting the lever is released.

4. A typewriter platen-carriage stop mechanism comprising, a series of swingably mounted settable stops for travel with the carriage, a hinged finger mounted on the typewriter frame to selectively set and retract the stops, a pair of shiftable elements connected to the finger, key-actuated means connected to the respective elements so as to oppositely shift the same to selectively set and retract the stops, a lever mounted adjacent the shiftable elements to permit the upper end of the lever to be moved into the path of a set stop, resilient means normally retracting the lever from the path of a stop, key-actuated means for shifting the lever against the action of the resilient means for disposing the upper lever end in the path of a set stop, a retractable cam on the lever adjacently opposed to the stop-retracting element, and a pin on the stop-retracting element disposed in the path of the cam, the cam being movable into position to engage the pin when the lever is shifted into the path of a set stop and subsequently effecting the shifting of the stop-retracting element when the keyactuated means for shifting the lever is released.

5. A typewriter comprising, a tabulating mechanism including a series of independently-rockable column stops movable with the platen carriage and a rockable stop-setter mounted on the typewriter frame, each of the stops being formed with a toothed sector having a pair of spaced teeth, the stop setter extending into the space between the two teeth and normally held in idle position, key-actuated means for rocking the stop-setter to selectively set and retract the stops, a lever pivoted on the typewriter frame adjacent the stop setter, resilient means normally urging the lever toward its retracted position, key-actuated means for shifting the lever to dispose the end thereof in the path of a set stop, and means on the lever engageable with the stop setter to effect a restoration of a stop when the key-actuated means for shifting the lever is released.

6. A typewriter comprising, a reciprocable platen carriage, escapement mechanism normally urging the carriage in one direction and permitting its free manual reverse movement, a tabulating mechanism including a series of settable stops movable with the carriage and a key-actuated oppositely-shiftable stop setter mounted on the frame for selectively setting and retracting the stops, key-actuated means for releasing the escapement mechanism and arresting the movement of the carriage, an auxiliary key-actuated member for arresting the manual return movement of the carriage at a selected stop position, and means on the auxiliary member to actuate the stop-setter for retracting an engaged stop upon the release of the auxiliary member.

7. A typewriter comprising, a reciprocable platen carriage, escapement mechanism normally urging the carriage in one direction and permitting its free manual reverse movement, a tabulating mechanism including a series of settable stops movable with the carriage and a key-actuated oppositely-shiftable stop setter mounted on the frame for selectively setting and retracting the stops, key-actuated means for releasing the escapement mechanism and arresting the movement of the carriage, an auxiliary key-actuated member for arresting the manual return movement of the carriage at a selected stop position, and means on the auxiliary member engageable with the stop setter to actuate the same to effect a retraction of a stop when the auxiliary member is released.

8. In a typewriter machine, tabulating mechanism comprising two key-actuated spring-returned means mounted on the frame of the machine, a platen carriage mounted to travel relatively to the frame of the machine, a series of settable column stops mounted to travel with the carriage and for shifting independently of each other relatively to the carriage into operatively and inoperatively set positions, means on the main frame oppositely shiftable by the two key-actuated means from a normal idle position to which the oppositely shiftable means is automatically returned upon spring return of each of the key-actuated means, the oppositely shiftable means and the stops being coactive for setting the stops one at a time in operative position upon actuation of one of the key-actuated means and in inoperative position upon actuation of the other key-actuated means, the oppositely shiftable means comprising a pivoted stop setter and a link device pendent from the setter and connected with both the key-actuated means for longitudinal movement thereby in opposite directions from a normal idle position, a spring-urged lever normally urged upward under the link device and supporting the latter with the link device and stop setter in normal idle position,-a stop against which said lever-is.normally spring urged, a second lever substantially coextensive with the link device and hinged on the frame to permit the upper end tobe shifted intoposition to engage a set stop, resilient means normally urging the second lever toward a retracted position, key-actuated means for shifting the second lever against the action of the resilient means, and coacttng means on the lever and link device engageable during the shiftmg of the second lever to effect an automatic operation of the link device to retract a stop when the key-actuated means for shifting the second lever is released.

9. in a typewriter machine, tabulating mechanism comprismg two key-actuated spring-returned means mounted on the frame of the machine, a platen carriage mounted to travel relatively to the frame of the machine, a series of settable column stops mounted to travel with the carriage and for shifting independently of each other relatively to the carriage into operatively and inoperatively set positions, means on the main frame oppositely shift-:-

shiftable means comprising a pivoted stop setter and a a. link device pendent from the setter and connected with both the-key-actuated means for longitudinal movement thereby in opposite directions from a normal idle position,

a-spring-urged lever normally urged upward under the linkdevice'and supporting the latter with the link device and stop setter in normal idle position, a stop against which said lever is normally spring urged, a second lever substantially coextensive with the link device and hinged on the frame to permit the upper end to be shifted into position to engage a set stop, resilient means normally urging the second lever toward a retracted position, keyactuatecl means for shifting the second lever against the action of the resilient means, a retractible cam on the second lever adjacently opposed to the link device, and

' a pin on the link device disposed in the path of the cam,

the cam being movableinto position to engage the pin when the second lever is moved into the path of a set stop and subsequently effecting a shifting of the link device to retract a stop when the second lever is released.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,099,011 Gabrielson et al. Nov. 16, 1937 2,478,630 Hill Aug. 9, 1949 

